“We just want to say thank you so much. You didn’t just make our dreams come true once, you made it come true 2 times.”– Kian
Westlife’s reunion is undoubtedly one of the best gifts bestowed upon the 80s and 90s kids.
No matter how many new groups sprouted over the years, none is as good as old, for old is gold in our hearts.
If Take That, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys were the best boy bands of your adolescent years, Westlife surely had its place on this Golden list too.
Do these Irish guys still have it?
Oh yes, they absolutely do.
They age like the finest 1980s vintage wine, being on their tip-top conditions looking as good as ever, with captivating vocals that have improved by heaps and bounds.
Looking as charismatic as yester-years, their vocals amazingly better, a tribute to Queen medley, a marriage proposal, a 48.75-second record breath-holding longest note for “Fool Again”, the thunderous cheers, massive karaoke session & white lights from a 22,000 strong crowd in the biggest indoor arena that Westlife has ever played in their 20 years, pretty much summed up the short reminiscence rendezvous Westlife had with their Singapore fans last weekend.
You don’t need Infinity stones when you have Westlife singing right before you. Their vocals have got healing and therapeutic powers which can soothe your hearts and minds at the same time.
“Eargasm” at its best.
Time came to a standstill when the quartet emerged on stage. We were channeled back to the early 2000s through a time tunnel.
The euphoric pleasures from yester years coming to life before your eyes and ears felt so surreal, making you feel young and old at the same time.
As they sang their new hit “Hello, My Love”, our fluttering hearts screamed “Rehi, My Loves!”.
Our initial worries about the crowd not being responsive since Westlife is more of a vocal group (whose forte is certainly not in fast tracks or dancing), was uncalled for.
The explosive and deafening cheers across the National Stadium took us not only by surprise, but in turn spurred us to give it our all for these guys who finally made a comeback into Singapore fans’ arms.
The “closet fan girls” were unleashed from their chains to have the time of their lives.
Yes, they are back, to S̶W̶E̶A̶R̶ ̶I̶T̶ Swoon us all over again with their melodious vocals.
The lovelorn fans would no longer be flying without wings for Westlife’s reunion sparks hope and faith and have given them a pair of angel wings.
It’s been a long, long time, but we are so glad these guys are back for a reunion! It was a dream come true twice for Westlife, and us. If you were among the lucky 22,000 audience at the National Stadium, you are part of Westlife’s legacy.
The number of people sprouting on their feet, waving their hands, swaying along to their most renown hits, singing along as loudly as they could, screaming for these guys at the top of their lungs, the number of phone screens raised either to on the mobile lights or to record the performance, was a clear indication how badly the fans wanted to keep those moments as forever memories.
This is how much Singapore misses Westlife and we want to safeguard these moments till the end of time.
We know that the sound system at National Stadium is often described as “substandard”, but it takes some of the most powerful vocals to withstand this test. Nonetheless, Westlife proved that they could take full control with their strong vocals.
Westlife – The Twenty Tour Singapore Setlist
-
Hello, My Love
-
Swear It Again
-
What About Now
Talking 1 – Shane
-
My Love
-
When You’re Looking Like That
-
Uptown Girl
Talking 2 – Nicky
-
If I Let You Go
Talking 3 – Mark
-
Better Man (with a fan proposal on stage)
-
Queen Medley – Another One Bites the Dust, Radio Gaga, I Want to Break Free, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions
Acoustic
-
I Have a Dream
-
Unbreakable
-
Fool Again
-
Queen of My Heart
-
Dynamite
Talking 4 – Kian
-
You Raise Me Up
Encore
-
Flying Without Wings
-
World of Our Own
Classics are best served RAW.
This was most evident during their best hits like “Swear It Again”, “Uptown Girl” and “If I Let You Go”. The crowd reacted the most fervently during these timeless hits and the past video snips on the LED screen brought back loads of adolescent memories.
“If I Let You Go” exuded the most Nostalgia vibes as I watched the “young lads” on screen. I could almost recall all those happenings during that phase of my life.
We could also vaguely remember Jamie Teo (Ms Universe Singapore 2001) making a guest appearance during “Uptown Girl” back in Westlife’s 1st SG concert in 2001.
We could still remember the lyrics of yester years by heart as we sang along line after line.
Some things are just etched in the mind and heart.
You aren’t likely to remain friends with your ex-boyfriends, but you would be thrilled to meet your high school crushes, who are still looking as charismatic, as if the years flew by in a twinkling of an eye.
Nicky’s still FREAKING HOT in his 40s and shares that uncanny resemblance to Ronan Keating.
You felt like a teenage girl once again, going gaga over your long-time-no-see high school beaus who have maintained themselves so well. Yes, we could all hear our hearts thumping out loud. There’re just tonnes for this reminiscence rendezvous. It was a joyous get-together.
Westlife’s vocal has got a therapeutic effect.
No one has qualms that Shane and Mark got the best vocals in Westlife. We thought it would be great if they could maintain their yester-years standards, but we were so blown away by how much their vocal techniques have improved over the years of hiatus.
Shane sounding as perfect as ever (he rarely goes out of pitch, if ever), Mark’s remarkably high notes reminded you of Divas like Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey, while Nicky and Kian who do more vocal harmonization in the group, had a chance in the spotlight to prove that they could sing fairly well too.
Even more surprising was how Kian managed to pull off “I want to Break Free” so well. We totally didn’t expect that.
Letting It Go at the Height of Their Careers
Westlife sold 55 million records worldwide and is hailed as the biggest UK arena act of all time, with their 13th and latest concert tour “The Twenty Tour”, scheduled with 51 shows across the globe.
The biggest Irish Manband of all time, announced disbandment at the height of their music career in 2012. They could sacrifice all that fame and glory, shed the idol status and return to a “commoner’s routine lifestyle”. This decision broke millions of hearts worldwide, but we knew it was inevitable and necessary.
No matter how fans petitioned for a reunion, how many blank cheques were offered to them all these years, they stuck by their decision to have a chance, a go at their personal interests.
They thought this was the end of Westlife, and we too, thought this was really it (despite harboring hopes of their reunion, no matter how small the chances are).
20 years have passed us by & many things have changed in the course of our lives, including these guys who took a break just to get back to normal routine lives.
To quote the lyrics from “My Love”, we would be thinking “I wonder how, I wonder why, I wonder where they are” all these years.
We wondered how they are leading their lives out of the limelight with solo artist careers and being family men. We wondered why they did not say yes to a comeback despite countless opportunities offered on their plates, including blank cheques. We wondered where they are all this while.
What Makes a Real Man
“What makes a man” seems to be the most apt song for these guys (though they didn’t sing it in SG) who have tasted fame and popularity, but being able to let it all go at the height of their careers, while also being able to take it up again like a man should, when they are ready to move on.
It takes more than pure courage and determination to stand by what they believed in and wanted so badly.
This was in exchange for a commoner’s life, for more time with their families and children; so that they would not miss the golden years of watching their kids grow up.
This was their priority.
As Nicky put it, they never knew what a “routine” life was (my heart cringed a little when he said that) and we can attest this hiatus did them more good than bad. They have matured and nurtured into family men, loving husbands and daddies, pursued their solo interests, be it releasing solo albums, doing solo gigs, hosting radio shows, etc.
Now that they are ready to take on the world stage once more as Westlife, they made good their promise to return bigger and better.
The moment they said they wanted a comeback; fans around the world gave their utmost support by sharing the news like wildfire on social media platforms.
These humble, down-to-earth, fun-loving guys did not change at all. They are still the earnest and sincere guys that we know.
I guess that’s one big reason why they are successful.
There’s a Chinese saying that goes “分久必合”, which means the time will come for a reunion when you are separated for long enough.
It wasn’t an unpleasant breakup, thus the opportunity for such a highly-anticipated reunion ensued.
The Grand Return
The talk in town has been Westlife’s “The Twenty” Tour since they announced their comeback in 2018 and also whether Brian would join them.
These 4 lads had been doing well as a quartet (they had their hard times too) after Brian’s departure. If they feel this is the best for them, fans respect that decision for Westlife would only be complete if they feel they are.
Their ambitions for a bigger & better comeback are revealed in how they are preparing for their new album “Spectrum”. With Ed Sheeran, Fred Gibson & Steve Mac (produced hits like Flying without wings) co-producing this album, it’s of assured quality and adds a refreshing, contemporary mix to the ballads. They are a formidable team – Steve Mac knows Westlife very well, Ed Sheeran being a huge Westlife Fan.
While their forte is in their harmonious vocals and not their dance moves, their new collaborations with Ed Sheeran have seamlessly integrated them back to the current music scene, without sounding like oldies. There’s an infusion of the latest pop elements in their new tracks, while they continue doing what they are best at.
It affirms that they did not just want to be another passé nostalgic act, but they still have what it takes to stay relevant now and all ready to move forth to the future.
The last I attended their concert was their 1st ever concert in Singapore in 2001, when my friend and I skipped morning class to queue for the best seats, and I mean 1st row seats. It has always been a regret that I couldn’t make it for their 2011 “Gravity” tour which turned out to be the last before they announced their disbandment and didn’t come to SG for their farewell tour.
Now that they are back, there’s no reason to say no, especially when we could celebrate our 20 years of friendship at their 20th Anniversary Tour.
It took them 8 years to make it back here at a bigger venue, with a larger audience’s whose faith never wavered despite their disbandment.
These were the ones who held on to the faith that Westlife would return again.
Singapore was their 1 and only stop where they held their Westlife “The Twenty Tour” Asia Tour Press Conference and we were also the largest indoor arena that they have ever played at. It speaks so much of a big love from a small island.
It may be the biggest and hottest sauna they have ever played in, but they are just like the bubble tea that quenched our thirst in this humid weather.
It was undeniably one unforgettable night for all of us.
The Westlife Banter
Shane – The One feeling Burning Hot, But Yeah He’s Hot
The guys took turns to convey their “Thank Yous” on stage.
Shane started wishing Singapore a Happy 54th and quipped “It’s BURNING HOT in Singapore!”
We bet he wasn’t just talking about the weather. The atmosphere was so HOT, that we wondered if they could handle the overwhelming response.
I had my reservations if the audience would react fervently to Westlife’s performance since they had been on hiatus for so long.
But boy, they were greeted by a thunderous roar across the National Stadium when they came on stage!
Is this even the reserved Singapore audience that we all knew?
Shane mentioned that it is the biggest indoor arena that they have played in the 20 years and they wanted everyone to have a party and sing along with them.
We could sense the excitement in his voice and we have all seen the Instagram videos he posted before their concert that evening.
It was rare for Westlife to ask audience to be up on their feet during fast tracks, but they probably wanted everyone to have a time of their lives after the long hiatus.
The next special song “My Love” was dedicated to the fans, which the audience readily accepted with much zest.
Mark – The One Who Found It Unbelievable to Gain Worldwide Popularity
Mark began with exclaiming “Fantastic, we Love you Singapore! Let me hear you say “Hey, Westlife!”
He found it hard to believe that halfway across the way, people know their songs and names. “Thank you very much. This concert and tour is a big thank you for the support.”
They would usually ask some people on stage during this segment. It was a tough choice who to choose but they invited 2 ladies from Ireland who are true Westlife fans.
While making their introductions, a man went on stage, got on bended knees and proposed to the lady named “Nicky”. She eagerly put the ring on her finger that drew laughter from the crowd. Luckily for that, else we do not know how awkward it would be if she were to reject the marriage proposal before such a huge crowd.
There these guys serenaded the newly engaged couple and the crowd with their new song “Better Man”.
It was definitely a special night for this couple, getting engaged before a 20,000 crowd.
Nicky – The One with a Special Request
He agreed with Shane that it felt like they were performing in a Sauna but he emphasized that this was the best show in a “sauna” they have ever done.
Nicky went “You are used to this heat right?”
Well, yes of course.
He went on with a “cold” joke “Because in Ireland, it’s twice as hot as this. This is actually quite cold.”
“This is a celebration of 20 years of Westlife. The band originated on the west coast of Ireland and I joined from Dublin and in 1998, we signed a record deal. We recorded a song called “Swear It Again”, and then we recorded “Flying without Wings”.
From there Singapore, our lives totally changed. You know, we are really 18, 19 years of age; the band was popular in different parts of the world. But nothing can compare to this when we landed in Singapore to see thousands of you guys at the airport.
We would go back home and tell everybody. Nowadays you got your Twitter and Instagram to show, we would tell everybody on the phone what it was like in Asia for Westlife.
And I think, it’s only right that we thank you for all the love and support you have given us for all those 14 years and 20 years because when we split up after 14 years, we get married, we have children. And we live our lives and we did different things…
But we always see on Instagram and Twitter, you guys making us trend around the world, whether we were releasing solo records or radio shows, and whatever we will do, you guys always support us away from Westlife.
Amazing love, Singapore, so I also want to say Thank You tonight.Now, when you are on the other side of the world, you kind of miss things that are happening back home.”
What did Nicky mean by this?
Dublin was playing in the semi-finals for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, so Nickly garnered some help from the audience to post a video on social media before Dublin went to play the match.
The audience turned on their mobile phone lights and gamely shouted “Dublin, Dublin” and “Come On Dublin”.
Was a little skeptical in how the audience would respond but the enthusiasm that night with sheer fan modes on, there was no stopping the audience to be game for it.
Kian – The One You Wanna Give A Big Bear Hug
Kian was the last to deliver his speech, but it was also the most moving one.
It was a dream turned reality for them. He confessed that they were really worried if they still had it if they were to make a comeback. Could they still get up on stage and sing those songs? Did anybody care?
We didn’t even need to hear the resounding “YES” from the audience to know that’s not a cause for worry at all, my dear Kian.
Even when the guys had their reservations, we never doubted it.
The legions of fans worldwide were just waiting for you guys to nod your heads.
“We just want to say thank you so much, to each and every one of you guys here tonight. You didn’t just make our dreams come true once, you made it come true 2 times. So, Thank you so much Singapore, We Love you so much”.
Fans around the world reacted with overwhelming response to their hint-at-a-comeback video.
It’s no secret that they did not just want to be a “nostalgic act” if they were to make a comeback. They worked alongside Ed Sheeran to produce their latest album “Spectrum”, to prove they could stand the test of time and to stay relevant in the market.
Indeed, the new songs “Hello, My Love”, “Better Man” and “Dynamite” prove to be widely received.
Heartfelt Moment – You Raised Me Up
As a prelude to the next song that probably got some of the audience a little teary-eyed, Kian shared that “You Raise Me Up” was the song the guys sang at his dad’s and Nicky’s dad’s funerals. It was a hard time for them as they lost their dads one after another in a very short time span.
Ever since then, this song is about family, the ones that they lost, the ones that are still here and for all their loved ones around the world.
It’s a song for their beloved departed, and also for all their loved ones around the world.
It was an impactful, heartfelt moment when their soulful renditions comforted our hearts, our eyes watched the stars shining across the stadium and our minds reminiscing the loved ones we have lost.
It was a poignant moment to ponder and reflect as you watched the 20,000 white lights shining like stars in the sky. The resounding backup vocals from the 20,000 strong audience would raise goose bumps.
Definitely a moment etched in our hearts, minds and souls. It stirred a storm in our hearts.
We would pounce on Kian and give him a bear hug if we could even get near to him.
Tribute to Queen Medley
While some may feel it’s a drastic twist from their usual “acapella” performances, I simply love that change for this “Tribute to Queen” segment.
Not sure about the rest of the audience, but it may be a little boring or dry if they were just to stand there and sing all the lovey-dovey sentimental ballads for 1.5 to 2 hours.
I was glad they took the effort to add in some dance tunes where everyone could sway along to. As long as they enjoy doing what they do, that’s all it matters.
A Tribute to Queen – Seriously, why NOT?
How smooth Kian sounded in “I want to break free” caught us by sheer, pleasant surprise. We loved his solo on the electric guitar too.
It doesn’t matter if their butt tweaking, or erh, butt shaking was a little awkward. It got the ladies so high. They did it for the fans and for all we may know, they were secretly enjoying it.
I love the “We Will Rock You” segment particularly. These guys always have a decent, goody-two-shoes image and you cannot even visualize them being a little more rugged.
Who says Kian and Nicky are just the “Visuals” of the band? They finally got a chance to be in the spotlight for their vocals too.
No one is ever perfect and we just love how Westlife unleashed the little wild side in them.
Ladies, we may all love Prince Charmings, but we can’t deny that “Bad boys” tick too.
Change is necessary every now and then and if they enjoy making these changes, why not just embrace them as they are?
They are still the good, old Westlife that we love.
Love the diamante and blings on their leather jackets but we could almost guarantee the guys were sweating buckets beneath those thick jackets.
That clamping and thud-thumping “We Will, We Will Rock You” cheers, just never gets old. They did a splendid job for “We are the Champions” too.
These crowd-crooners only heated up the atmosphere more, drawing louder cheers and screams.
Acoustic Segment
Even though they are family men nearing their 40s now, they are still the young, cheeky lads in our hearts.
Nicky joked about how a crew member sang “This Song is Unbearable” instead of “This Love is Unbreakable” from their song “Unbreakable” and was “fired” thereafter.
Mark said that they have got too many hits to sing, so they were going to sing a bit of each and began the acoustic segment with “Unbreakable”, “Fool Again” and “Queen of My Heart”.
Needless to say, they serenaded us with some of their greatest hits.
The Longest Note for “Fool Again” Reminded us of a Yum Seng Toast
Since we are the biggest indoor crowd that they have ever played for, the playful guys requested us to also try dragging the longest note for “You NEVEEEEEER Told Me” to “Fool Again”.
Well, that was a good breath-holding record of 48.75 seconds, though we can definitely do better if they wished to continue.
The Irish guys may not know that there’s a Chinese traditional toast at wedding banquets in Singapore where we would drag the “Yum Seng” as long as we can, as a form of blessing for the newlyweds. It’s not too much of an issue to us, except we would all secretly take a 2nd breath like what Kian guessed.
Hey guys, we really got “fooled” by you all over and over again.
But we’d gladly do it again.
Encore
A 1.5-hour concert with 17 songs on the setlist was indeed way too short. Perhaps they can consider a 25-song setlist the next round, please?
When it was time for the last 2 songs during Encore, the silhouettes of these guys walking up the stage was Déjà vu at its best manifestation. Clad in white suits, they looked like angels descending from heaven, when they began crooning to the all-time classic “Flying without Wings”.
It reminded us instantly of them donning similar but longer-flowing white suits back in 2001. We were so near these guys when we were right at the 1st row of the side arena.
Time has been kind to these lads-turned-dads. They are still oozing with charisma; they still make butterflies flutter in our stomachs.
One thing we know for sure, these guys are back and here to stay for at least the next few years. They still have what it takes and their legions of fans still have their backs.
The last song “World of Our Own” depicts their take on life the most.
No matter what people say, they held on to their beliefs, without yielding in to allow the world to change them, but for them to build a world of their own.
Now, we are glad that they have let us back in again to their world. It’s been too long a wait, but better late than never.
The sea of white, the loud cheers and sing-a-long would remain in our memories for a long, long time.
Thank you Westlife for the awesome performance, swooning us with your amazing vocals & positive vibes.
It’s so therapeutic & healing listening to you guys sing, as per always.
But please, do not let us wait another decade again before returning to our shores
We’ll always catch your backs.
1 Comment